Dirigible light for motor vehicles



. 1454,91 S. E. ORR

DIRIGIBLE LIGHT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Nov. 7. 1921- 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Patented 1:5,

current-ST TES.

P NT-armor;

n. can, or 'mconm, wasnmeroiv.

IDIRIGIBLEIIIIIGHT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES;

Application med November 7, 1921.- Serial in. 513,413.

'To all'whom z't may co'ncem; V r I Be it known that I, SUMNER EflOim, a citizen of the United States, and resident v of Tacoma, in thecounty of Pierce and State f of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dirigible Lights for Motor Vehicles, of which the following .is 'a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dirigible lights for motor-vehicles,.'and consists more particularly in the provision of a lamp which is operatively connected with the vehicle steering mechanism so that when the latter is turned the lamp: will be also turned to thereby'project its light at all times in side of the car has served somewhat to lessen the danger arising on account of not having the roadwa lighted on curves. However, 'the spot lig ts and some 'typesof dirigible Y lamps which heretofore have been provided,

necessitate the removal by. the operator of one hand from the'steering wheel to turn said light, either spotlight orfdirigible.

In roads which are dangerous, either by reason of their narrowness or steep grade,

the safety requirements obligethe operator to have both hands on the steerin wheel and hence has arisen the need of a irigible lamp which is operated automatically, by the steerin mechanism of the'vehicle. In the device eretofore provided, however, a serious objection obtains in establishing a connection between the steering gear and the lamp1 on account of the jars.

T e steering mechanism is'under constant vibration and while the lamp mounting may be secured to the frame of the car so that the springs are interposedbetween the running lamp is not subject to thesevere jars of the steering gear, nevertheless, the great vibrations of the. steering gear aretransmitted to the lamp unless special provision be made for overcoming the same.

A primary object of my-invention is to provide, a dirigible lamp, the turning movements of which will be automatically made to conform to the movements of the steering gear and also, it is'a primary object or my. invention to provide such ,a dirigible lamp so connected to the steering I gear that the movements of the steering gear will be im-" parted to the lamp without transmittingthe objectionable vibrations of said steering car so that a steadiness of. light is provide by my invention.

Again, another problem present in providing steadiness of light by .anautomatically operated dirigible lamp, arises .from the fact that the jars of the machine will tend .to

cause the mountings to wear and introduce considerable play between all the parts 'so that steadiness of light soon becomes impossible unless. special'provision' is madev to overcome'the effect of said "jars and unless the mechanism employed be of the minimum number of parts and simple in construction.

,A primary object of my invention is to provide such a dirigible lamp which'will be simple in construction and the parts so mounted that alltendency to wear between moving parts will not operate to result in unsteadiness of light and will be so mounted that a chattering between'the-parts will be eliminated. Also, it is a primary. object of myinvention to provide-a dirigible lamp operating mechanism which will be inconspicuous andneat in appearance. My inventive idea may be embodled in *various mechanical structures, one o,;which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and includes novel detail features of construction and arrangements,- but it is to be understood that the structure shown is merelfyintended as a disclosure .of the essential In the drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the difierent views.' gear and the frame, with the result that the Figure 1 s iew in side elevation of the front. portion of an automobile showing my improved dirigible lighting mechanism associated therewith, certain parts of theautomobile being removed to more clearly disclose my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan of what 'is disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a top plan artly in section of my improved light brae et;

Fig. 4:, a side elevation of my light bracket;

Fig. 5, an elevation of a bracket for secur ing a. lamp operating member to the auto mobile steering mechanism;

Fig. 6, an edge view of said bracket; Fig. 7, an edge view of a supporting device for the lamp operating member; and

Fig. 8,'a bottom plan of the device shown in Fi 7.

Re errin nowto the drawings in detail, it will be o served that my improved dirigible light operating. mechanism consists essentially of a lamp supporting bracket 10 and a flexible rod 11, which latter is secured at one end to the vehicle steering mechanism and at its other'end to a portion ably vehicle, and is additionally provided with an angularly extending arm 17 having a threaded passage 18 into which is adapted tobe threaded one end of a flexible tube 19 4 which houses the rod 11.

y The plate 13 includes anupstanding apertured lug 20 whereby the lamp 21 may be secured thereto, while a stud 22, fixed with respect to said plate and extending through an o ning in the base plate 12, provides fort e rotation of said plate 13 with res ect to the base plate, the two plates 12 an 13 being normally maintained in a definite predetermined relative rot'ative relation b a spring 23 which is coiled around the stu 22 and has one end fixed to the plate 12' and; its other end fixed to the stud 22 or to a nut 24 which is threaded on and pinned to the stud, and which serves to retain. spring 23 thereon.

Extending from. the lamp attaching plate 13 is an arm 25 provided adjacent to its outer end with a transverse -o ening 26 adapted-to receive one end of -t 'e rod 11 -which latter may be ad'usted through said opening and secured in esired relation with e am 25by a screw 26 threaded in said apertured. to receive securing bolts. 15. as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, whereby the p same may be secured tothe frame 16 of the washer and flared arm in intersecting relation to the opening 26.

A clamp device 27 illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8 is adapted to be secured to the axle 28 of the vehicle to provide a fixed sup-' port for the second end of the tube 19. This clamp device is formed from relatively stifisheet metal into substantially U-shape, the arms thereof being suitably shaped for gripping the axle 28 into which they may be drawn in clamping relation by a bolt 29. A

portion of said device is rolled upon itself as at 30 to provide a tube like extension which I is adapted to receive the lower end of tube '19 and one end of said rolled portion has the bolt 29 extending therethrough so that when the lower end of. the tube 19 is inserted in said rolled portion, tightening of the bolt serves the dual function of clamping the device as an entirety to the axle and of clamping the tube 19 in said rolled portion.

' In Figures 5 and .6 is illustrated a device 31 for adjustably securing the second or lower end of the rod 11 tothe vehicle steering mechanism. This device consists of a flat piece of sheet metal bent upon itself to provide a pair ofarms 32,33 forming'at one end of the device a loop 34 adapted to'be arranged in embracing relation to and clamped in any desiredlongitudinally adjusted position along the steering knuckle arm 35 of said steering mechanism. A bolt 36 passing through the arms .32, 33 provides a simple and convenient means of drawing them together to thereby obtain the desired clamping effect of the loop upon the arm 35,

and if desired, in order to accommodate the device for association with steering knuckle arms of difierent sizes, the arms 32, 33 may i I be provided with plural bolt receiving open in 36'. I

he lon .er arm 33 of the device 31'is slotted as at.3 toreceive a bolt 38, which latter is provided with a flared head 39 seating in a flared recess in a relatively thick washer 40. The head 39 is transversely slotted as at p 41 and the' shank of the, bolt is preferably drilled to provide an opening extending throughout its length and 1n communication with said slot. The washer 40 is disposed against one face of the arm 33 and between said arm and the head. 39 of the bolt, while a nut 42 threaded on the bolt and bearing against the opposite face of arm 33 provides a means whereby the head 39 may be drawn a result of the wed 'ng action-between the close .the slot 41. loosened the bolt may be slidably adjusted along the slot 37 and as is apparent ti hten' ead, close or partially Whenfithe nut 42 ..'is

ing of the nut not only acts toclose t e slot 41, but acts also to-secure the bolt in its ad justed position.

into the fia'redrecess of the washer and as .of the sprin rearward en In p ing the mechanism as described in the oregolng to a vehicle, the bracket 10 is secured to the frame of the vehicle, and

the clamp devices 27 ,-31 are res ectively se-- cured to the axle 28 and steering-knuckle arm 35; the tube 19 is secured at one end to the bracket 10 and at its other end to the device 27, and "the flexible rod is inserted in said tube and secured at one end to the arm 25 of. rotatable plate 13 and at its.

other end to the device 31. With this relation of parts established all movements at all times keeps a tension in the flexible tively t0 op connector or rod 11, causes the lamp to rotate in the opposite direction, that is, to return to normal straight-ahead position, or

outwardly, if the knuckle arm rotates inwardly sufficiently. In short, the spring23 and the rodor connector 11 cause the movements of the lampto conform to those of the steering knuckle arm 35. This arrangement is adaptedto utilize the mechanical advantage arising by virtue of the lever arms afforded by the mountings and to make the movements of said lamp readily and posi- -tively conform to the course of the automobile. The tube '19 functions to prevent bulging or distortion of the flexible rod 11,"

and the sprin 23, maintaining said tension upon the sai connector or rod 11, functions to maintain the lamp steady in such,

position as it may be directed. The' said spring also functions to clamp the lamp supporting plate securely to the bracketso tha unsteadiness of light is avoided.

- In securing the lowerend' of rod 11 to the device 31 thenut 42- is first loosened and the end of said rod inserted through the opening in the 'bolt' with a portion of the same disposed in the slot 41,.after which the nut is tightened to close the slot and.

I clamp the rod therein.

'In practice only a single lamp 21 "with its associated 0 rating mechanism need-be employed, but i I desired a pair'of them may be used and o ratively connected respecite sides of the vehicle steering-mechamsm. .Furthermore, it is desirab e that the lamp or lam' 21 besupplemental tothe usual vehic e' headlights 43 butif'desired the latter may remove from; their usual mounts and secured'to the plate or plates 13 and thus rendered dirigible as is apparent.

porting plate to the steering a s'grlng dis 8 From the fore connection with t e accompanying drawings it is believed that the'cjonstructlon, operation and advantages of my 'im rovements will be clearly un erstood, and while I have ing description taken. in

herein shown and described one specific em bodiment of my invention I do not limit myselfto the detailsherein shown exce t for such limitations .asmay be, defined 1n the I appended claims.

I claim i 1. The combination with a vehicle having a frame and'steering gear, of a dirigible lampoperating mechanism embodying a bracket mounted on the'vehicle frame, a ro'- tatably mounted lamp supporting plate,.op-

eratively disposed on said bracket; a single vflexible rod joining saidlamp supporting plate to the steering gear; a sprin operatively disposed between said brac et and said plate whereby said sprin at all times tends to rotate sald plate against the force of said rod, whereby is provided a flexible yielding connector between the steering mechanism and the lamp for providing steadiness of the light, said rod functioning to impart steering movements to the lamp.

2. The combination with a vehicle having a frame and steering gear of a dirigible lamp operating mechanism embodying a bracket mounted on the vehicle frame; a rotatably mounted'l'amp supporting plate operativelydisposed on said bracket, said: plate having a stud which extends through 'saidbracket; a single flexible rod joining said lamp supadjustln nut on the end 0 said stud; a spring isposed on 'said stud, one end of saldspring beingfixed in said bracket and the other end fixed in'said adjusting nut,

said s ring-at ,all times tending to rotate,

the said plate against'the efforts of said rod whereby is provided a flexible'yielding conar; a spring nector between the steering gear and the lamp, said rod functioning to impart'steeb.

ing movements to the lamp, and said spring also functioning ingplate-to the bracket.

' 3. The combination'with a vehicle having a frame and steerin gear of a dirigible lamp operating mec anism embodying a bracket mounted on-the vehicle frame; a rotatably mounted lamp supporting plate operatively disposed on said bracket, said plate having a stud which extends through said bracket; a single flexible rod joining said lamp. 'supportin plate to the steering a hohsing tube orsaid rod, said tube sai ring ing fixed in said bracket and the ,ot er end fixed in said ad usting nut, said ring at all times tending to rotate the $31 plateagainst the efiorts of said rod to clamp the lamp supportv ggs fixedly mounted'independent of saidvrod; a spring adjusting nut on the end of said stud 4 d on said stud, oneiendof Ill 4. A dirigible lamp operating mechanism embodying a bracket having a hole disposed therein; an I arm integrally formed-on said bracket; a rotatably mounted lamp supporting plate operatively disposed on said bracket; an arm carried b said plate; a lug vertically disposed on sai late; a stud carried by said plate operative y dis osed in the secured at the other end to sai and said spring also functionin said hole of said bracket; an a justing nut on the end of said stud; a steerin knuckle arm; a single flexible rod releasab y secured late and steering knuckle-arm whereby suitable leverage is provided for actuating said lamp supporting plate; a housing tube for said flexible connector, one end portion of said tube being mounted on the arm of said bracket and being mounted as respects the other end portion of said tube to the axle; a spring disosed of said stud, one end of said spring in fixed in said bracket and the other end ing fixed in said adjusting nut, said spring at all times tending to rotate the said late. against the force of said rod, where yeis provided a flexible yielding conmotor at one end to said arm of said to impart steering movements to the lamp, to clamp the lamp supporting plate to the racket.

5. Incom nation with a, dirigible lamp operating mechanism, a bracket; a lamp supporting plate having a stud operatively disposed 1n said bracket a flexible rod connector secured to said plate; a 8 ring adjusting nut disposed on the end 0 said stud, and a spring mounted on said stud having one end fixedly secured in said bracket and the other end secured in said nut, said spring exerting a tension at all times upon said rod.

6. In a diri 'ble lampoperating mechanism, a device orv securing an end. of a lamp 0 rating rod to the steering mechanism 0 a vehicle including a bolt provided with a slot adapted to receive said rod, and means for closing said slot to thereby clamp the rod therein.

5 7. In a diri ible lamp operating mechanism, a device or securing an end ofa lamp 0 rating rod to the steering mechanism o a vehicle including an arm adapted to be secured to the steering knuckle arm of said steering mechanism, a bolt lon 'tudif nally' adjustable along said arm, said bolt being provided with a slot adapted to receive said rod, and means for closing said slot to thereby clamp the r therein.

a dirible a operat mechathe tween the steering mechanism and the saidplate, said connector functioning nism, a device for securing an end of a lamp rod, and a single means operable to close said slot to thereby clamp'the rod therein and simultaneously secure the bolt in its longitudinally adjusted position with respect tosaid arm.

9. In a dirigible lamp operating mechanism, a device or securing an end of a lamp operating rod to the steering mechanism of a vehicle including a bolt rovided with a slot adapted to receive said rod, and wedging means for closing said slot to thereby clamp the rod therein. 10. In a diri 'ble lamp operating mechanism, a device or securing an end of a'lamp operating rod to the steering mechanism of a vehicle including an arm adapted to be secured to the steering knuckle arm of said steering mechanism, said arm being slotted, a headed bolt disposed in and longitudinally adjustable along said slot, the head of said bolt being flared and -rovided with a slot adapted to receive sai rod, a washer dis- .posed between the head of said bolt and.

said armand provided with a flared recess receivin the flared head of the bolt, and a nut t readed on said bolt for drawing the head thereof into the flared recess of the washer to thereby close the slot andclamp the rod therein.

11. In a dirigible lamp operating mecha operating rod to the steering mechanism of nism, a clamp for securing a housing tube for a lamp operating rod .to a portion of a vehicle including a substantially U-shaped member having a portion thereof 1 re led upon itself to receive the housing. tube, and

a bolt passing throu h the 'arms of said .U-shaped member an .throu h an end of said rolled portion and o rab e to impart a dual clamping action 0 the member upon a portion of the vehicle and of the rolled portion thereof u on said tube.

12. In a dirigi le lamp operating mecha-. nism, a bracket adapted to be secured to the frame of a vehicle, said bracket including a base plate and a lamp sup ortin plate rotata ly mounted thereon, an acoi spring acting to hold said lates together, said s ring having one end secured to the base p ate and its other end secured to the lamp supporting late whereby it acts solely to maintain said plates in a predetermined.

ism whereby steering movements imparted to the latter are simultaneously imparted to the lamp.

13. In combination with a 1p operating mechanism, a mom; a lam supporting plate rotatably wit respect to said bracket; a flexib e rod connector secured to said plate; and means operativei disposed with respect to said plate and said flexible connector whereby said connector is maintained at all times, under tension, with the result thatsaid plate is caused to tend to return to a predetermined position at all times. 10

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature I I SUMNER E. ORR. 

